ME LD1469

Child care providers accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, American Montessori Society, National Association for Family Child Care, or Council on Accreditation must receive the highest rating under Maine's child care quality rating system

Head Start programs meeting national Head Start standards must also receive the highest quality rating

The department pays differential rates for child care services meeting or making substantial progress toward nationally recognized quality standards, funded through the Child Care Development Fund 25% Quality Set-aside

Quality differential rates are not required for child care services provided through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant

Signed into law as Public Law Chapter 247 on June 10, 2025